Minimalism Is Officially Out—Why Designers Are Loving a New, Colorful Style This Fall

By 

Melissa Epifano

Published on 09/06/24

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There’s a perpetual flip-flopping of trends when it comes to interior design, and there are two styles in particular that always seem to be playing a popularity tug of war: minimalism and maximalism.

You’ll know minimalism by its trademark pared-down aesthetic and calming front and maximalism by its vibrant and eclectic mix of colors, patterns, and shapes. And—as of right now—there’s a telling shift towards the bolder of the two.

We all know minimalism will never truly be “out” or disappear from the design world’s vocabulary, but right now maximalism is having its moment—and for very good reasons.

If the bright and playful characteristics of this style are calling your name, here’s why you should explore maximalism in your own living space, according to several designers.

Meet the Expert

• Justina Blakeney is the designer and founder of Jungalow.
• Grey Joyner is an interior designer and founder of Grey Joyner Interiors.
• Sonya Winner is a color expert and creative director of Sonya Winner Rug Studio.

It Feels More Personal

While maximalism is much more colorful than its subtler counterpart, it doesn’t necessarily have to mean “more” in the sense of stuff.

Instead, it’s a bolder, more meaningful expression of your style—that’s how Justina Blakeney, designer and founder of Jungalow, sees it.

“One of the ways I like to express myself is through color, pattern, texture, and objects I’ve collected, and that reminds me of the people, places, and ideas that I love,” she says. “And it just so happens to be a lot!”

In this interpretation, maximalism becomes a design style much more suited to individuality and showcasing your personality.

“For me, my maximalist style allows me to share the story of who I am and what I love through design,” she adds, which she feels is something minimalism can’t quite do in the same way.

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It’s Inviting and Tells a Story

Interior designer Grey Joyner encourages her clients to grow collections of things that intrigue them or bring them happiness, which fits neatly into the category of maximalism.

“Not only is it a fun way to express personality and passions within your home, it’s an organic way to bring in a variety of colors, textures, and individuality to a space,” she says.

This blend of colors, textures, and one-of-a-kind objects makes it easier to tell a story about who you are and where you come from. This not only personalizes your home, but it becomes a more welcoming space, too.

“Minimalism can feel sterile to me, and uninviting,” she notes.

Instead, leaning on the vibrant and rule-bending world of maximalism offers a welcoming energy and invites your eyes to wander, which feels more exciting than rooms with a less-is-more approach.

It’s More Playful and Vibrant

Sonya Winner, color expert and creative director of Sonya Winner Rug Studio, has noticed minimalism’s trend cycle coming to a natural end.

Dwellers are now longing for playfulness and vibrancy in their interiors to match their happier outlooks. Whether you’re designing a room for yourself or a child, maximalism works for any situation.

Design is less about what you should do, and more about what feels good—and there is nothing wrong with incorporating the childlike sense of joy that this type of style evokes.

Winner noticed that in the last couple of years, natural, peaceful, and “cocooning” spaces were big, but now that this phase has had its moment.

“Homeowners and consumers are responding to the use of maximalist color and pattern in their homes more and more,” she says.

It Boosts Your Mood

One of the most wonderful things about maximalism and its vivid palettes, mishmash of patterns, and layering is how it makes you feel when you spend time in a room designed under this umbrella.

Winner explains that it can have a transformative effect on our mood and our experiences when we’re around mixes of complex shades.

Winner shares that she is by no means “anti-minimalism,” but she’s found over time that maximalism is so much more joyful and visually compelling.

Even if you don’t incorporate this style into every corner of your home, it’s a convincing argument for updating one area at the very least, like a bedroom or powder room, so you can enter and feel uplifted and energized, rather than relaxed or grounded.

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